Software Engineer II, Mission Software

Vast; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 192,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

PTO

Job summary

Vast in Long Beach, CA seeks a Software Engineer, Mission Software, to join the design and build of software for artificial-gravity space stations. You will work with frontend and backend teams, APIs, and flight software interfaces, delivering tools that accelerate development across the SDLC in a rapidly growing company.

Candidates have a CS or engineering degree and 2+ years in full‑stack development, with experience in Docker/Kubernetes, APIs, and modern frameworks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, or engineering discipline.
• 2+ years of software development or relevant industry experience.
• Experience building, shipping, and supporting complex, data-intensive full-stack software applications.
• Experience with API design.
• Experience with React/Vue/NextJS, GraphQL, Golang, OAuth, Terraform, PostgreSQL.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement web applications using modern frontends and application servers that consume APIs and micro-services.
• Design and implement backends including data modeling, APIs, and supporting pipelines.
• Interface with Flight Software team to integrate with flight software and simulations.
• Build tools and platforms to accelerate all software teams across the SDLC (test automation, simulation management, CI/CD).
• Iterate rapidly on tooling and design new applications as the company grows.
• Influence and adopt software practices that scale to a large codebase and team.

Skills

Full-stack development

API design

React/Vue/NextJS

Golang

OAuth

Terraform

PostgreSQL

Docker

Kubernetes

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, or engineering

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

React

NextJS

GraphQL

Golang

OAuth

Terraform

PostgreSQL

Job description

Vast is developing next-generation space stations and space infrastructure using an incremental, hardware-rich, and low-cost approach. Vast is rapidly developing its multi-module Haven Station to ensure a continuous human presence in space for America and its allies, enabling advanced microgravity research and manufacturing, and unlocking a new space economy for government, corporate, and private customers. Haven Demo’s 2025 success made Vast the only operational commercial space station company to fly and operate its own spacecraft. Next, Haven-1 is expected to become the world’s first commercial space station when it launches in 2027, followed by additional Haven modules. Additionally, the company recently announced Vast Satellite, a high-power satellite product line leveraging its space station components and the heritage of Haven Demo.

Headquartered in Long Beach, California, and with more than 1,000 employees and over a billion dollars in private capital, Vast has built the facilities required to manufacture and operate America’s next space station. The company plans to develop future habitats and systems for the Moon and Mars, dedicated space stations for government partners, and other crewed systems that will unlock the expanding long-term space economy.

Vast is looking for a Software Engineer, Mission Software, reporting to Senior Manager, DevOps & Platform, to support the development of the systems that will be required for the design and build of artificial-gravity human-rated space stations.

This will be a full-time, exempt position located in our Long Beach location.

Responsibilities

• Work with team to design and implement web applications using modern frontends and application servers, that consume apis and micro-services in a heterogeneous environment
• Work with team to design and implement backends including data modeling, apis, and supporting pipelines
• Work with Flight Software team to design solutions that interface with flight software and simulation
• Build tools and platforms that help all of our software teams move faster through all phases of SDLC (test automation, simulation management, continuous deployment, etc.)
• Rapidly iterate on tooling and design new applications as the company grows
• Influence and adopt software practices and patterns that will scale to what will eventually become a very large codebase and team

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, or other engineering discipline
• 2+ years of software development or relevant industry experience
• Experience building, shipping, and supporting complex, data-intensive full-stack software applications

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience working on ambiguous problems
• Production DevOps experience (Docker and K8s preferred)
• Experience working with multiple programming languages
• Experience working with time series data and databases
• Experience with API design
• Experience with one or more of the following platforms and frameworks
• React, Vue or similar
• NextJS
• GraphQL
• Golang
• OAuth
• Terraform
• PostgreSQL

Pay Range: California

$135,300—$192,060 USD

We calibrate level and compensation to the selected candidate's experience and demonstrated capability. We welcome applicants across a range of experience levels to apply.

Compensation And Benefits

Base salary will vary depending on job-related knowledge, education, skills, experience, business needs, and market demand. Salary is just one component of our comprehensive compensation package. Full-time employees also receive company equity, as well as access to a full suite of compelling benefits and perks, including: medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents, generous paid time off; up to 20+ days of vacation for exempt staff and up to 10+ days of vacation for non-exempt staff with the ability to cash-out unused vacation annually, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, ClassPass credits, personalized mental healthcare through Spring Health, and other discounts and perks. We also take pride in offering exceptional food perks, with snacks, drip coffee & onsite barista, cold drinks, and dinner meals remaining free of charge, and lunch subsidized as part of Vast’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality meals for employees.

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL COMPLIANCE STATUS

• 120.62 or otherwise eligible for deemed export licensing. This status includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and asylees and refugees with such status granted, not pending.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Vast is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Vast is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.